The entire Coal Oil Point Reserve is an Environmentally Sensitive Habitat and must comply with campus, USFWS, and CA Coastal Commission policies.
No dogs are allowed in the reserve.
Use of the Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve (COPR) is limited to research, class, and public outreach.
BEFORE STARTING YOUR PROJECT OR CLASS, DISCUSS YOUR FIELD SITES WITH THE RESERVE DIRECTOR. SPECIAL PERMISSION IS REQUIRED TO ENTER SOME AREAS.
Field trip and class use: Field trips to the beach may be restricted between March 15 and September 15 to reduce impact to breeding Snowy Plovers. FIELD TRIPS ARE ALLOWED ON APPROVED TRAILS ONLY.
PARKING You will receive the gate combination to park in the Reserve parking lot when your application is approved. Parking is limited; please encourage car-pooling.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT There is a porta-potty at the parking lot. Researchers should contact the Reserve Director regarding facilities available for research use. The Reserve office has insect and plant collections, a small laboratory with scopes and collecting gear, a bibliography database, and GIS maps.
RESEARCHERS At the beginning of your research, share your project location (GPS coordinates) with the reserve staff. At the end of a research project, each user must remove all materials left in the field. Please provide a PDF of publications and review your usage by June 30th of each year.
NEVER enter the Snowy Plovers protected area.
TIDEPOOLING The ocean in front of the Reserve, including the tidepools, is a Marine Protected area since January 2014. Collecting requires a permit from the California Department of Fish and Game.
FIREARMS PROHIBITED All firearms are prohibited on any University of California property of the Regents of UC at any time, pursuant to the California Penal Code, Sections 629.9 (h) and 629.9 (i).
Code of conduct url: /pdf/nrs-codeofconduct.pdf
Directions
PARKING LOT INSIDE THE RESERVE: Exit U.S. 101 at the Storke Road exit. Turn south toward the ocean. Continue along Storke Road until the end. At the intersection with El Colegio Rd. continue to the right on Slough Road for about 1/2 a mile until you reach a locked gate. Open the gate with the combination provided by the reserve director. Park in the lot on the first driveway to the right.
NATURE CENTER: The Nature Center and reserve headquarters is at the end of Slough Road, before the locked gate. Slough Road. Building 7060. Paid parking is available around the Nature Center.
